Police Tasers & The Connection With Increased Arrests In Okaloosa County

Whenever law enforcement arrives on scene in Okaloosa County and becomes involved for whatever reason (investigation, safety concerns, etc.), this is a prime situation where verbal confrontations can become physical, especially with the advent of the police taser weapon and its rampant use in the field.

Police will readily fire the taser if they believe it will be helpful to contain a situation (or just make their immediate objectives easier to accomplish. However, when a taser is fired, police are required to file a taser-use report with their respective agency. (This is the practice of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.)

Because the taser-use report requires the officer to legally justify the use of his or her taser in the field, that is why we have seen such an increase in the category of citizen/law enforcement interaction-based crimes which include some very serious charges:

• Resisting Officer Without Violence
• Resisting Officer With Violence
• Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer
• Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer
• Disorderly Conduct (Breach of Peace)
• Obstructing Justice

This “taser-use mentality” promotes a more reactionary relationship during interactions between officers and the public. This has become even more of an issue because of the potential for lawsuits stemming out of injuries suspects have suffered at the hands of an officer.

And if the officer uses their taser or physically interacts with a suspect for any reason, we can only expect additional charges to be added in order to insulate them from civil damages and liability.

If you or a family member was hit with a taser during an arrest in Okaloosa County or Walton County, FL., give me a call at (850) 362-6655 to discuss the various charges and what I can do to help. The call is free.

 

Our Locations